Cynthia Jones, one cannot be other than fascinated with life of this woman. Her spirit is an inspiration. She was as sturdy as granite stone.
Cynthia was born 6 September 1838, the fourth born of at least eight children to the family of William Jones. The family lived for many years in the middle part of Jefferson County, Florida, near the little town of Waukeenah. Cynthia was probably born there. (Cynthia, born in Lowndrs County Georgia per the Account of Louis Harris in "THE STORY OF FLORIDA") Her mother, Elizabeth, Rowell was born in 1808, the last year that Thomas Jefferson was president.. Her father, William, born in Georgia in 1805, they were early migrants to Florida in 1835 or 1836.
When Cynthia became a young maid, a young man, James Alexander Harris, came over from the adjoining Madison County, and laid court to her. James Alexander Harris born 23 May 1835 in Georgia. His father William S. Harris, born in South Carolina on 4 Feb. 1810. He was a school teacher. James's mother Mary Ann Agnue born 22 October 1802 in North Carolina. He and his father and mother moved to Madison County, Florida in the early 1850.
James and Cynthia were married 25 December 1859. They established their home near his father in Madison County.
This young couple was shown on the 1860 census of Madison County as next door neighbors of William and Mary Ann Harris, James' mother and father. William S. still identified himself as a school teacher. James taught school in the footsteps of his father.
James was probably pursuing some other occupation during these years. We can assume he was farming, because in 1860 he was identified as a planter.
In 1858 and 1860 they acquired land in Madison County. They first bought 160 acres and then purchased a 200 acre tract.
James and Cynthia had, their first child, Mary Elizabeth, who was born 16 January , 1861. She was called Elizabeth so as not to confuse her with her grandmother, Mary Harris, living nearby, and was called by the name of her maternal grandmother, Jones.
Mary Elizabeth was born immediately prior to the terrible war and its hardships. We can assume that great suffering came to this small family from the Civil War and its aftermath.
The first of two sets of twins were born to them in 1866 or 1867. They were named John and Dailas. Another boy was born in 1869 and was named for his grandfather, William S. These little boys all died in their infancy.
By 1870 the family had established a farm and a home back near Cynthia's parents in the Waukeenah-Lamont area of Jefferson County. James' mother was deceased and his father was living with them and their children, Elizabeth, Willie and John.
James Armstrong was born to them in 1871. and Cynthia's last born children, a second set of twins, were born in 1873. They were named Louis and Charles.
Very shortly after the birth of the last children, her husband, James, died. 23 August 1873.
Cynthia had a number of small children, few tangible assets, and had probably never lived more than a few miles from where she was born. She was of limited education and training.
"THUS BEGAN HER ODYSSEY."
Little is know of her years of widowhood. Cynthia married a fairly prosperous farmer in Jefferson County named Jesse R. Atkinson. He had a number of grown children and was substantially older than Cynthia. He was 67 and she was 40 when they married. A man named Swain D. Waller married them on September 12, 1878. This marriage was short-lived, a prophesy of thing to come. Atkinson died November 19, 1882. He was farming 600 acres, or nearly a section, of land at that time. We can assume he was a generous man since a number of persons owed him money, without giving collateral, at the time of his death.
Cynthia next married a man named Bowden Of him, we presently know little. This apparently was of a rough set of people in Taylor County, Florida. These people were poor and devoted a good deal of their time toward making and consuming moonshine whiskey. They even made their own sugar to fulfill the requisite ingredient. Bowden has been said to have been cruel to Cynthia. For whatever reason, Bowden had great friction with Cynthia's teenage boys and there are various accounts of actual physical blows being passed. Finally completely exasperated, Bowden tossed Cynthia into the back of his wagon and deposited her on the doorsteps of her daughter, Elizabeth. He then left. This final trip may have been at the insistence of Cynthia. (As told by Charles Harris (1873-1951), David Wilson Vann (1881-1981), and others, Cynthia held the name "Bowden" when she was married in 1892.
Cynthia then made a dramatic decision. She and her teenage boys moved to a totally new area far distant from their traditional home. They moved to Brevard County, Florida, a place where you could grow crops in the wintertime and farmer could grow two crops in a year. Brothers William N., Joseph E. and Seaborn are also in the area.
Soon after her arrival she began to see Jacob Chancey. He lived at City Point, just north of the present city of Cocoa. This was situated on the Indian River, a beautiful and fertile lagoon. She had undoubtedly know him in Jefferson County. Jacob Chancey was married and subsequently widowed from Cynthia's sister Matilda and that he sent her the money to come to Merritt's Island in Brevard County.
"Jake", as he was called, loaned Cynthia money to help her along. He was some seventeen years older than she, but once again Spring was in the Fall air. They were married in December of 1892, but "Old Jake" died the following December.
On February 12, 1895, Cynthia contracted her last marriage. She again married a farmer, a man named Joel W Swain.
Her young sons had finally come of age. They began to acquire land in 1897. The boys were close and they acquired their first tract together. There had been a great freeze in 1895-96. Unaccustomed Florida flora and fauna could not stand the cold and even most of the fish were killed.
Swain, Cynthia's last husband, Joel W. Swain died in 1900.
In December of that same year, Cynthia's last son to marry, Charles, was married. This happy marriage to Belle Beck was performed in Shapes, Florida, another community just north of Cocoa, Florida. Belle had been living with her older sister, Ella. Old Captain and Mrs. Sharpe witnessed the wedding.
The remaining years of Cynthia's life were spent alternating between the home of her sons, James, Louis and Charles. As an older woman she became somewhat crotchety, but maintained her sense of humor. She once said, "I married five men for their money and didn't get a dime from any of them."
The life of Cynthia spanned the development of this country from a rural agricultural community to a modern industrial giant. She was 22 years old when the Civil War began and 62 years old at the turn of the century. She had seen virtually every scientific concomitant to living change radically whether it be cooking, transportation, or communication.
She shed many tears of joy and tragedy. She watched many of those close to her die, she shared the bed of many men, saw her sons prosper, grandchildren and great grandchildren proliferate.
She held the fullest measure of life....
She was stout and sturdy, but death that had visited so often in her home came to Cynthia on August 4, 1919. She is buried under the name of Cynthia Swain in the Winter Beach Cemetery, a few miles north of the present city of Vero Beach, Florida.
(Wendell Harris THE HOUSE OF HARRIS )
1932-1975
Cynthia was born 6 September 1838, the fourth born of at least eight children to the family of William Jones. The family lived for many years in the middle part of Jefferson County, Florida, near the little town of Waukeenah. Cynthia was probably born there. (Cynthia, born in Lowndrs County Georgia per the Account of Louis Harris in "THE STORY OF FLORIDA") Her mother, Elizabeth, Rowell was born in 1808, the last year that Thomas Jefferson was president.. Her father, William, born in Georgia in 1805, they were early migrants to Florida in 1835 or 1836.
When Cynthia became a young maid, a young man, James Alexander Harris, came over from the adjoining Madison County, and laid court to her. James Alexander Harris born 23 May 1835 in Georgia. His father William S. Harris, born in South Carolina on 4 Feb. 1810. He was a school teacher. James's mother Mary Ann Agnue born 22 October 1802 in North Carolina. He and his father and mother moved to Madison County, Florida in the early 1850.
James and Cynthia were married 25 December 1859. They established their home near his father in Madison County.
This young couple was shown on the 1860 census of Madison County as next door neighbors of William and Mary Ann Harris, James' mother and father. William S. still identified himself as a school teacher. James taught school in the footsteps of his father.
James was probably pursuing some other occupation during these years. We can assume he was farming, because in 1860 he was identified as a planter.
In 1858 and 1860 they acquired land in Madison County. They first bought 160 acres and then purchased a 200 acre tract.
James and Cynthia had, their first child, Mary Elizabeth, who was born 16 January , 1861. She was called Elizabeth so as not to confuse her with her grandmother, Mary Harris, living nearby, and was called by the name of her maternal grandmother, Jones.
Mary Elizabeth was born immediately prior to the terrible war and its hardships. We can assume that great suffering came to this small family from the Civil War and its aftermath.
The first of two sets of twins were born to them in 1866 or 1867. They were named John and Dailas. Another boy was born in 1869 and was named for his grandfather, William S. These little boys all died in their infancy.
By 1870 the family had established a farm and a home back near Cynthia's parents in the Waukeenah-Lamont area of Jefferson County. James' mother was deceased and his father was living with them and their children, Elizabeth, Willie and John.
James Armstrong was born to them in 1871. and Cynthia's last born children, a second set of twins, were born in 1873. They were named Louis and Charles.
Very shortly after the birth of the last children, her husband, James, died. 23 August 1873.
Cynthia had a number of small children, few tangible assets, and had probably never lived more than a few miles from where she was born. She was of limited education and training.
"THUS BEGAN HER ODYSSEY."
Little is know of her years of widowhood. Cynthia married a fairly prosperous farmer in Jefferson County named Jesse R. Atkinson. He had a number of grown children and was substantially older than Cynthia. He was 67 and she was 40 when they married. A man named Swain D. Waller married them on September 12, 1878. This marriage was short-lived, a prophesy of thing to come. Atkinson died November 19, 1882. He was farming 600 acres, or nearly a section, of land at that time. We can assume he was a generous man since a number of persons owed him money, without giving collateral, at the time of his death.
Cynthia next married a man named Bowden Of him, we presently know little. This apparently was of a rough set of people in Taylor County, Florida. These people were poor and devoted a good deal of their time toward making and consuming moonshine whiskey. They even made their own sugar to fulfill the requisite ingredient. Bowden has been said to have been cruel to Cynthia. For whatever reason, Bowden had great friction with Cynthia's teenage boys and there are various accounts of actual physical blows being passed. Finally completely exasperated, Bowden tossed Cynthia into the back of his wagon and deposited her on the doorsteps of her daughter, Elizabeth. He then left. This final trip may have been at the insistence of Cynthia. (As told by Charles Harris (1873-1951), David Wilson Vann (1881-1981), and others, Cynthia held the name "Bowden" when she was married in 1892.
Cynthia then made a dramatic decision. She and her teenage boys moved to a totally new area far distant from their traditional home. They moved to Brevard County, Florida, a place where you could grow crops in the wintertime and farmer could grow two crops in a year. Brothers William N., Joseph E. and Seaborn are also in the area.
Soon after her arrival she began to see Jacob Chancey. He lived at City Point, just north of the present city of Cocoa. This was situated on the Indian River, a beautiful and fertile lagoon. She had undoubtedly know him in Jefferson County. Jacob Chancey was married and subsequently widowed from Cynthia's sister Matilda and that he sent her the money to come to Merritt's Island in Brevard County.
"Jake", as he was called, loaned Cynthia money to help her along. He was some seventeen years older than she, but once again Spring was in the Fall air. They were married in December of 1892, but "Old Jake" died the following December.
On February 12, 1895, Cynthia contracted her last marriage. She again married a farmer, a man named Joel W Swain.
Her young sons had finally come of age. They began to acquire land in 1897. The boys were close and they acquired their first tract together. There had been a great freeze in 1895-96. Unaccustomed Florida flora and fauna could not stand the cold and even most of the fish were killed.
Swain, Cynthia's last husband, Joel W. Swain died in 1900.
In December of that same year, Cynthia's last son to marry, Charles, was married. This happy marriage to Belle Beck was performed in Shapes, Florida, another community just north of Cocoa, Florida. Belle had been living with her older sister, Ella. Old Captain and Mrs. Sharpe witnessed the wedding.
The remaining years of Cynthia's life were spent alternating between the home of her sons, James, Louis and Charles. As an older woman she became somewhat crotchety, but maintained her sense of humor. She once said, "I married five men for their money and didn't get a dime from any of them."
The life of Cynthia spanned the development of this country from a rural agricultural community to a modern industrial giant. She was 22 years old when the Civil War began and 62 years old at the turn of the century. She had seen virtually every scientific concomitant to living change radically whether it be cooking, transportation, or communication.
She shed many tears of joy and tragedy. She watched many of those close to her die, she shared the bed of many men, saw her sons prosper, grandchildren and great grandchildren proliferate.
She held the fullest measure of life....
She was stout and sturdy, but death that had visited so often in her home came to Cynthia on August 4, 1919. She is buried under the name of Cynthia Swain in the Winter Beach Cemetery, a few miles north of the present city of Vero Beach, Florida.
(Wendell Harris THE HOUSE OF HARRIS )
1932-1975
Cynthia Jones, one cannot be other than fascinated with life of this woman. Her spirit is an inspiration. She was as sturdy as granite stone.
Cynthia was born 6 September 1838, the fourth born of at least eight children to the family of William Jones. The family lived for many years in the middle part of Jefferson County, Florida, near the little town of Waukeenah. Cynthia was probably born there. (Cynthia, born in Lowndrs County Georgia per the Account of Louis Harris in "THE STORY OF FLORIDA") Her mother, Elizabeth, Rowell was born in 1808, the last year that Thomas Jefferson was president.. Her father, William, born in Georgia in 1805, they were early migrants to Florida in 1835 or 1836.
When Cynthia became a young maid, a young man, James Alexander Harris, came over from the adjoining Madison County, and laid court to her. James Alexander Harris born 23 May 1835 in Georgia. His father William S. Harris, born in South Carolina on 4 Feb. 1810. He was a school teacher. James's mother Mary Ann Agnue born 22 October 1802 in North Carolina. He and his father and mother moved to Madison County, Florida in the early 1850.
James and Cynthia were married 25 December 1859. They established their home near his father in Madison County.
This young couple was shown on the 1860 census of Madison County as next door neighbors of William and Mary Ann Harris, James' mother and father. William S. still identified himself as a school teacher. James taught school in the footsteps of his father.
James was probably pursuing some other occupation during these years. We can assume he was farming, because in 1860 he was identified as a planter.
In 1858 and 1860 they acquired land in Madison County. They first bought 160 acres and then purchased a 200 acre tract.
James and Cynthia had, their first child, Mary Elizabeth, who was born 16 January , 1861. She was called Elizabeth so as not to confuse her with her grandmother, Mary Harris, living nearby, and was called by the name of her maternal grandmother, Jones.
Mary Elizabeth was born immediately prior to the terrible war and its hardships. We can assume that great suffering came to this small family from the Civil War and its aftermath.
The first of two sets of twins were born to them in 1866 or 1867. They were named John and Dailas. Another boy was born in 1869 and was named for his grandfather, William S. These little boys all died in their infancy.
By 1870 the family had established a farm and a home back near Cynthia's parents in the Waukeenah-Lamont area of Jefferson County. James' mother was deceased and his father was living with them and their children, Elizabeth, Willie and John.
James Armstrong was born to them in 1871. and Cynthia's last born children, a second set of twins, were born in 1873. They were named Louis and Charles.
Very shortly after the birth of the last children, her husband, James, died. 23 August 1873.
Cynthia had a number of small children, few tangible assets, and had probably never lived more than a few miles from where she was born. She was of limited education and training.
"THUS BEGAN HER ODYSSEY."
Little is know of her years of widowhood. Cynthia married a fairly prosperous farmer in Jefferson County named Jesse R. Atkinson. He had a number of grown children and was substantially older than Cynthia. He was 67 and she was 40 when they married. A man named Swain D. Waller married them on September 12, 1878. This marriage was short-lived, a prophesy of thing to come. Atkinson died November 19, 1882. He was farming 600 acres, or nearly a section, of land at that time. We can assume he was a generous man since a number of persons owed him money, without giving collateral, at the time of his death.
Cynthia next married a man named Bowden Of him, we presently know little. This apparently was of a rough set of people in Taylor County, Florida. These people were poor and devoted a good deal of their time toward making and consuming moonshine whiskey. They even made their own sugar to fulfill the requisite ingredient. Bowden has been said to have been cruel to Cynthia. For whatever reason, Bowden had great friction with Cynthia's teenage boys and there are various accounts of actual physical blows being passed. Finally completely exasperated, Bowden tossed Cynthia into the back of his wagon and deposited her on the doorsteps of her daughter, Elizabeth. He then left. This final trip may have been at the insistence of Cynthia. (As told by Charles Harris (1873-1951), David Wilson Vann (1881-1981), and others, Cynthia held the name "Bowden" when she was married in 1892.
Cynthia then made a dramatic decision. She and her teenage boys moved to a totally new area far distant from their traditional home. They moved to Brevard County, Florida, a place where you could grow crops in the wintertime and farmer could grow two crops in a year. Brothers William N., Joseph E. and Seaborn are also in the area.
Soon after her arrival she began to see Jacob Chancey. He lived at City Point, just north of the present city of Cocoa. This was situated on the Indian River, a beautiful and fertile lagoon. She had undoubtedly know him in Jefferson County. Jacob Chancey was married and subsequently widowed from Cynthia's sister Matilda and that he sent her the money to come to Merritt's Island in Brevard County.
"Jake", as he was called, loaned Cynthia money to help her along. He was some seventeen years older than she, but once again Spring was in the Fall air. They were married in December of 1892, but "Old Jake" died the following December.
On February 12, 1895, Cynthia contracted her last marriage. She again married a farmer, a man named Joel W Swain.
Her young sons had finally come of age. They began to acquire land in 1897. The boys were close and they acquired their first tract together. There had been a great freeze in 1895-96. Unaccustomed Florida flora and fauna could not stand the cold and even most of the fish were killed.
Swain, Cynthia's last husband, Joel W. Swain died in 1900.
In December of that same year, Cynthia's last son to marry, Charles, was married. This happy marriage to Belle Beck was performed in Shapes, Florida, another community just north of Cocoa, Florida. Belle had been living with her older sister, Ella. Old Captain and Mrs. Sharpe witnessed the wedding.
The remaining years of Cynthia's life were spent alternating between the home of her sons, James, Louis and Charles. As an older woman she became somewhat crotchety, but maintained her sense of humor. She once said, "I married five men for their money and didn't get a dime from any of them."
The life of Cynthia spanned the development of this country from a rural agricultural community to a modern industrial giant. She was 22 years old when the Civil War began and 62 years old at the turn of the century. She had seen virtually every scientific concomitant to living change radically whether it be cooking, transportation, or communication.
She shed many tears of joy and tragedy. She watched many of those close to her die, she shared the bed of many men, saw her sons prosper, grandchildren and great grandchildren proliferate.
She held the fullest measure of life....
She was stout and sturdy, but death that had visited so often in her home came to Cynthia on August 4, 1919. She is buried under the name of Cynthia Swain in the Winter Beach Cemetery, a few miles north of the present city of Vero Beach, Florida.
(Wendell Harris THE HOUSE OF HARRIS )
1932-1975
Cynthia was born 6 September 1838, the fourth born of at least eight children to the family of William Jones. The family lived for many years in the middle part of Jefferson County, Florida, near the little town of Waukeenah. Cynthia was probably born there. (Cynthia, born in Lowndrs County Georgia per the Account of Louis Harris in "THE STORY OF FLORIDA") Her mother, Elizabeth, Rowell was born in 1808, the last year that Thomas Jefferson was president.. Her father, William, born in Georgia in 1805, they were early migrants to Florida in 1835 or 1836.
When Cynthia became a young maid, a young man, James Alexander Harris, came over from the adjoining Madison County, and laid court to her. James Alexander Harris born 23 May 1835 in Georgia. His father William S. Harris, born in South Carolina on 4 Feb. 1810. He was a school teacher. James's mother Mary Ann Agnue born 22 October 1802 in North Carolina. He and his father and mother moved to Madison County, Florida in the early 1850.
James and Cynthia were married 25 December 1859. They established their home near his father in Madison County.
This young couple was shown on the 1860 census of Madison County as next door neighbors of William and Mary Ann Harris, James' mother and father. William S. still identified himself as a school teacher. James taught school in the footsteps of his father.
James was probably pursuing some other occupation during these years. We can assume he was farming, because in 1860 he was identified as a planter.
In 1858 and 1860 they acquired land in Madison County. They first bought 160 acres and then purchased a 200 acre tract.
James and Cynthia had, their first child, Mary Elizabeth, who was born 16 January , 1861. She was called Elizabeth so as not to confuse her with her grandmother, Mary Harris, living nearby, and was called by the name of her maternal grandmother, Jones.
Mary Elizabeth was born immediately prior to the terrible war and its hardships. We can assume that great suffering came to this small family from the Civil War and its aftermath.
The first of two sets of twins were born to them in 1866 or 1867. They were named John and Dailas. Another boy was born in 1869 and was named for his grandfather, William S. These little boys all died in their infancy.
By 1870 the family had established a farm and a home back near Cynthia's parents in the Waukeenah-Lamont area of Jefferson County. James' mother was deceased and his father was living with them and their children, Elizabeth, Willie and John.
James Armstrong was born to them in 1871. and Cynthia's last born children, a second set of twins, were born in 1873. They were named Louis and Charles.
Very shortly after the birth of the last children, her husband, James, died. 23 August 1873.
Cynthia had a number of small children, few tangible assets, and had probably never lived more than a few miles from where she was born. She was of limited education and training.
"THUS BEGAN HER ODYSSEY."
Little is know of her years of widowhood. Cynthia married a fairly prosperous farmer in Jefferson County named Jesse R. Atkinson. He had a number of grown children and was substantially older than Cynthia. He was 67 and she was 40 when they married. A man named Swain D. Waller married them on September 12, 1878. This marriage was short-lived, a prophesy of thing to come. Atkinson died November 19, 1882. He was farming 600 acres, or nearly a section, of land at that time. We can assume he was a generous man since a number of persons owed him money, without giving collateral, at the time of his death.
Cynthia next married a man named Bowden Of him, we presently know little. This apparently was of a rough set of people in Taylor County, Florida. These people were poor and devoted a good deal of their time toward making and consuming moonshine whiskey. They even made their own sugar to fulfill the requisite ingredient. Bowden has been said to have been cruel to Cynthia. For whatever reason, Bowden had great friction with Cynthia's teenage boys and there are various accounts of actual physical blows being passed. Finally completely exasperated, Bowden tossed Cynthia into the back of his wagon and deposited her on the doorsteps of her daughter, Elizabeth. He then left. This final trip may have been at the insistence of Cynthia. (As told by Charles Harris (1873-1951), David Wilson Vann (1881-1981), and others, Cynthia held the name "Bowden" when she was married in 1892.
Cynthia then made a dramatic decision. She and her teenage boys moved to a totally new area far distant from their traditional home. They moved to Brevard County, Florida, a place where you could grow crops in the wintertime and farmer could grow two crops in a year. Brothers William N., Joseph E. and Seaborn are also in the area.
Soon after her arrival she began to see Jacob Chancey. He lived at City Point, just north of the present city of Cocoa. This was situated on the Indian River, a beautiful and fertile lagoon. She had undoubtedly know him in Jefferson County. Jacob Chancey was married and subsequently widowed from Cynthia's sister Matilda and that he sent her the money to come to Merritt's Island in Brevard County.
"Jake", as he was called, loaned Cynthia money to help her along. He was some seventeen years older than she, but once again Spring was in the Fall air. They were married in December of 1892, but "Old Jake" died the following December.
On February 12, 1895, Cynthia contracted her last marriage. She again married a farmer, a man named Joel W Swain.
Her young sons had finally come of age. They began to acquire land in 1897. The boys were close and they acquired their first tract together. There had been a great freeze in 1895-96. Unaccustomed Florida flora and fauna could not stand the cold and even most of the fish were killed.
Swain, Cynthia's last husband, Joel W. Swain died in 1900.
In December of that same year, Cynthia's last son to marry, Charles, was married. This happy marriage to Belle Beck was performed in Shapes, Florida, another community just north of Cocoa, Florida. Belle had been living with her older sister, Ella. Old Captain and Mrs. Sharpe witnessed the wedding.
The remaining years of Cynthia's life were spent alternating between the home of her sons, James, Louis and Charles. As an older woman she became somewhat crotchety, but maintained her sense of humor. She once said, "I married five men for their money and didn't get a dime from any of them."
The life of Cynthia spanned the development of this country from a rural agricultural community to a modern industrial giant. She was 22 years old when the Civil War began and 62 years old at the turn of the century. She had seen virtually every scientific concomitant to living change radically whether it be cooking, transportation, or communication.
She shed many tears of joy and tragedy. She watched many of those close to her die, she shared the bed of many men, saw her sons prosper, grandchildren and great grandchildren proliferate.
She held the fullest measure of life....
She was stout and sturdy, but death that had visited so often in her home came to Cynthia on August 4, 1919. She is buried under the name of Cynthia Swain in the Winter Beach Cemetery, a few miles north of the present city of Vero Beach, Florida.
(Wendell Harris THE HOUSE OF HARRIS )
1932-1975
Family Members
Spouses
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
